February 26, 2012 11:51pm ESTFebruary 26, 2012 11:18pm ESTDwight Howard fails to deliver a memorable night for Orlando fans, who are wondering if their chances to watch him in a Magic uniform are almost over.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- If Magic center Dwight Howard is not going to be in Orlando much longer, then Sunday’s All-Star Game was an opportunity for him to make a statement on his way out, some sort of memorable, flashy showing to leave in the minds of the hometown fans. It didn’t quite happen that way, though, as Howard was fairly quiet, finishing with nine points and 10 rebounds, taking only nine shots, four of which were from the 3-point line.

Howard’s reasoning was that big guys simply don’t get the ball much in All-Star games, not that he was coasting throughout the night. “There are a lot of guards,” Howard said. “They have the ball, they are the ones who pass.”

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East coach Tom Thibodeau agreed with Howard’s assessment. “Sometimes in these games, it is harder for the big guys because the ball is in the hands of the guards so much,” he said.

Howard also addressed the report by TNT’s Craig Sager, who said that Howard’s mother told him it would be her preference for Howard to stay in Orlando rather than keep up the trade request that he lodged before the season started. Trade rumors have percolated around Howard all year and are expected to come with greater frequency now that the All-Star Game is over.